2022 was a difficult season for the Patriots. Whether it be the fanbase, the coaching staff, or the players. But it’s hard to find anybody who had a more brutal season than quarterback Mac Jones.
From the starting line, the second-year quarterback out of Alabama had all of the pressure on his shoulders. He had just lost his offensive coordinator from his rookie season, and there was no competent replacement in line. Bill Belichick instead of hiring an offensive mind who’s worked with quarterbacks before, as any other good coach would, went against the grain. Belichick took Matt Patricia out of the office and put him as an offensive line coach and gave him the duty of calling plays. He also brought back Joe Judge as an offensive assistant, which quickly turned him into a quarterback coach.
Anybody with half a mind could tell this would be a struggle. As a matter of fact, it was exactly that. In training camp, there were signs of dysfunction. Whether it be wide receiver Kendrick Bourne getting into spats at practice, which could have cost him his season for all intents and purposes. Center David Andrews calling players-only meetings at practice. The list of examples goes on and on.
Though for the quarterback, it all manifested on Monday Night Football in Week 7 versus the Bears. Jones had just recovered from a sprained ankle that had kept him out of action for three weeks. The narratives had begun to take place in the region that third-string rookie signal caller Bailey Zappe should maybe take his job. Zappe went 2-1 in his limited action, with big wins over the Lions and Browns. The offense looked capable under Zappe, whereas under Jones in the previous weeks, it looked like the dysfunctional mess we had come to expect.
On that October Monday Night in primetime, Jones came face to face with adversity. And for all intents and purposes, he folded. In his three drives, the 2021 first-round pick went 3-6 on passes, for just 13 yards and an interception. He quickly heard the Foxboro crowd clamoring for the backup and Belichick enabled them by giving them Zappe for the rest of the game. Ultimately, he wasn’t much better, and New England lost 33-14 to the team that would have the first selection of the 2023 NFL Draft.
That was the end before we knew it for the Patriots. The offense never got on track for a full game after that. Barely beating the Jets twice, looking inept versus the Colts, and choking away games versus the Vikings and Raiders, among others. It’s brilliant that this team didn’t finish any lower than 8-9.
As we look and reflect on what was a frustrating season offensively, not seeing the big second-year leap from what should be the future of this franchise, it’s easy to just put it on Mac Jones. “His attitude went too far. He embarrassed himself and the Patriots by cussing out his play caller on national television. Chris Simms said he called other coaches for help!”. I can’t help you if you actually believe that last part, but otherwise, it’s hard to disagree. Jones had every right to be furious. But the buy-in was never there from the start. Patricia and Judge never had a chance without their quarterback believing in the program. It’s hard to imagine a young Tom Brady putting up the stink Jones did. Which permeated to guys like Hunter Henry, Jakobi Meyers (Mac’s biggest defender), Kendrick Bourne, and David Andrews.
But is this reason to call it quits on Jones already? The calls for Jones to be traded and for the Patriots to start over grow loud among the casual fans of Boston Sports. “Mac’s ovah Felgah! It shoulda been Zappe all along!” is what you hear on 98.5, what you’ve been hearing since Jones came back to the starting lineup.
Mac Jones is high-maintenance as a guy, sure. The new generation of athletes isn’t going to put up with the same things that generations of old did. It’s a societal change that everybody will just have to adapt to. But as a quarterback? Jones is perfectly capable. When he wasn’t getting drilled and getting plays called back from poor offensive line play, Jones was efficient. When Patricia took the hands off the wheel and let Mac use his brain? Even better.
It’s hard not to imagine what the Patriots’ offense could’ve been with an experienced play caller or a real, big-time wide receiver. Not that Meyers, Bourne, and DeVante Parker are bad options. They’re just not enough. Not for an offense that is perpetually trying to create something out of nothing.
In 2023, the Patriots have already made positive steps to recognize their faults. They’ve interviewed several offensive coordinator candidates, both outside and in-house. They’ve also reportedly kicked the tires on potential available wide receivers. DeAndre Hopkins and Tee Higgins (Higgins is going to be in the last year of his contract) both come to mind as potential options. This offense could become something closer to what Patriots fans have known and loved for the last 20 years. Just without the expertise of the greatest quarterback of all time. Though Mac Jones is perfectly adequate when given a fair shake.
I don’t know how you could reasonably put the blame at the feet of Mac Jones for 2022. Matter of fact, I can’t even judge him on much of anything for the disaster that was this offense. No other team has ever had a former defensive coordinator with zero experience in offense call the plays. No other team has a former special teams coordinator with zero experience in quarterback coaching be the coach of the quarterback. Jones dealt with a lot of unique situations in 2022. And a return to normalcy will not only be good for him, but good for the team as a whole. We’ll see what changes Belichick makes as this off-season pushes on, but the list on the offensive side of the ball is large.
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